In an exemplary three-year career on the White and Blue gridiron, Richard Karikari brought the crowd at STFX Stadium to its feet on countless occasions with his dazzling athleticism. A three-time AUS all-star – both as a defensive back and special teams’ player – Karikari was the conference’s most valuable player in 2002, while garnering a first-team All-Canadian nod and an AUS nomination for the Hec Crighton Trophy. In that stellar season, the native of Accra, Ghana was also one of four nominees for the prestigious BLG Award for the CIS Athlete of the Year.
While with the X-Men, Karikari set program records in punt and kick-off return yards. He is currently second overall in STFX career punt return yards (1432) and third in kickoff return yards (917). After his varsity playing days, Richard was selected 12th in the opening round of the Canadian Football League (CFL) draft by the Montreal Alouettes in 2003 and went on to enjoy a six-year professional career, including a CFL all-star nod in 2005.
